Boston Terrier -- Breed Standard
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Boston Terrier -- Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Boston Terrier is a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated,
short-headed, compactly built, short-tailed, well balanced dog,
brindle, seal or black in color and evenly marked with white. The head
is in proportion to the size of the dog and the expression indicates a
high degree of intelligence.
The body is rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and neatly
turned, the tail is short and no feature is so prominent that the dog
appears badly proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of
determination, strength and activity, with style of a high order;
carriage easy and graceful. A proportionate combination of "Color and
White Markings" is a particularly distinctive feature of a
representative specimen.
"Balance, Expression, Color and White Markings" should be given
particular consideration in determining the relative value of GENERAL
APPEARANCE to other points.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Weight is divided by classes as follows: Under 15 pounds; 15 pounds and
under 20 pounds; 20 pounds and not to exceed 25 pounds. The length of
leg must balance with the length of body to give the Boston Terrier its
striking square appearance. The Boston Terrier is a sturdy dog and must
not appear to be either spindly or coarse. The bone and muscle must be
in proportion as well as an enhancement to the dog's weight and
structure. Fault: Blocky or chunky in appearance.
Influence of Sex. In a comparison of specimens of each sex, the only
evident difference is a slight refinement in the bitch's conformation.
Head
The skull is square, flat on top, free from wrinkles, cheeks flat, brow
abrupt and the stop well defined. The ideal Boston Terrier expression
is alert and kind, indicating a high degree of intelligence. This is a
most important characteristic of the breed. The eyes are wide apart,
large and round and dark in color. The eyes are set square in the skull
and the outside corners are on a line with the cheeks as viewed from
the front. Disqualify: Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue. The
ears are small, carried erect, either natural or cropped to conform to
the shape of the head and situated as near to the corners of the skull
as possible.
The muzzle is short, square, wide and deep and in proportion to the
skull. It is free from wrinkles, shorter in length than in width or
depth; not exceeding in length approximately one-third of the length of
the skull. The muzzle from stop to end of the nose is parallel to the
top of the skull.
The nose is black and wide, with a well defined line between the
nostrils. Disqualify: Dudley nose.
The jaw is broad and square with short regular teeth. The bite is even
or sufficiently undershot to square the muzzle. The chops are of good
depth, but not pendulous, completely covering the teeth when the mouth
is closed. Serious Fault: Wry mouth.
Head Faults: Eyes showing too much white or haw. Pinched or wide
nostrils. Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head.
Serious Head Faults: Any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth
is closed.
Neck, Topline and Body
The length of neck must display an image of balance to the total dog.
It is slightly arched, carrying the head gracefully and setting neatly
into the shoulders. The back is just short enough to square the body.
The topline is level and the rump curves slightly to the set-on of the
tail. The chest is deep with good width, ribs well sprung and carried
well back to the loins. The body should appear short. The tail is set
on low, short, fine and tapering, straight or screw and must not be
carried above the horizontal. (Note: The preferred tail does not exceed
in length more than one-quarter the distance from set-on to hock.)
Disqualify: Docked tail.
Body Faults: Gaily carried tail. Serious Body Faults: Roach back, sway
back, slab-sided.
Forequarters
The shoulders are sloping and well laid back, which allows for the
Boston Terrier's stylish movement. The elbows stand neither in nor out.
The forelegs are set moderately wide apart and on a line with the upper
tip of the shoulder blades. The forelegs are straight in bone with
short, strong pasterns. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are
small, round and compact, turned neither in nor out, with well arched
toes and short nails. Faults: Legs lacking in substance; splay feet.
Hindquarters
The thighs are strong and well muscled, bent at the stifles and set
true. The hocks are short to the feet, turning neither in nor out, with
a well defined hock joint. The feet are small and compact with short
nails. Fault: Straight in stifle.
Gait
The gait of the Boston Terrier is that of a sure footed, straight
gaited dog, forelegs and hind legs moving straight ahead in line with
perfect rhythm, each step indicating grace and power. Gait Faults:
There will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving, when gaited. Hackney
gait. Serious Gait Faults: Any crossing movement, either front or rear.
Coat
The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.
Color and Markings
Brindle, seal, or black with white markings. Brindle is preferred ONLY
if all other qualities are equal. (Note: SEAL DEFINED. Seal appears
black except it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or bright light.)
Disqualify: Solid black, solid brindle or solid seal without required
white markings. Gray or liver colors.
Required Markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes,
white forechest.
Desired Markings: White muzzle band, even white blaze between the eyes
and over the head, white collar, white forechest, white on part or
whole of forelegs and hind legs below the hocks. (Note: A
representative specimen should not be penalized for not possessing
"Desired Markings."
A dog with a preponderance of white on the head or body must possess
sufficient merit otherwise to counteract its deficiencies.
Temperament
The Boston Terrier is a friendly and lively dog. The breed has an
excellent disposition and a high degree of intelligence, which makes
the Boston Terrier an incomparable companion.
Summary
The clean-cut short backed body of the Boston Terrier coupled with the
unique characteristics of his square head and jaw, and his striking
markings have resulted in a most dapper and charming American original:
The Boston Terrier.
Scale of Points
General Appearance 10
Expression 10
Head (Muzzle, Jaw, Bite, Skull & Stop) 15
Eyes 5
Ears 5
Neck, Topline, Body & Tail 15
Forequarters 10
Hindquarters 10
Feet 5
Color, Coat & Markings 5
Gait 10
Total 100
Disqualifications
Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue.
Dudley nose.
Docked tail.
Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal without required white
markings.
Gray or liver colors.
Approved January 9, 1990
Effective February 28, 1990